[Photo] Chaparral flattened Norco 48-28 in their Week Nine matchup, moving the Pumas into second place in the Big West Upper Division. Valley News/Drew Porter photo
— Week Nine landed for the area high school football teams, and that means there was no time to waste for that push to get to the postseason. After this week, the playoffs will be in full bloom for some teams, and for those that don’t make it, make sure your players get at least two plates at the end of the season banquet. They earned it.
When looking at the matchups from this past week, the Game of the Week had to be Chaparral versus Norco, where a playoff spot was on the line for the Pumas. Norco was looking to stay at the top of the Big West Upper Division standings, but Chaparral had other plans. Coming off a huge win over Murrieta Valley in Week Eight, the Pumas shocked the Cougars 48-28, and moved into second place behind Centennial. The Huskies punished Murrieta Valley in their Week Nine matchup, 50-7, ending the playoff hopes for the Nighthawks. This is the first time since their 2014-2015 season that they will not advance. Even more shocking, the Vista Murrieta Broncos will also not advance, making this the first time since their opening season in 2004 that they did not make it to the postseason.
As for other games that had that must win, electric vibe, well they all did in a sense, but here were a few noteworthy contests to mention, so far. Great Oak traveled this week to keep the possibility of their Big West Lower Division title close at hand and carried out that mission. The Wolfpack is now 4-0 in league after facing Santiago, who have still only won one single game so far this season; 37-13 was the final for that game.
Temescal Canyon was hoping to give Orange Vista a tough battle for the top of the Ivy League standings in Week Nine. Those standings were clogged up with four teams all sitting at 2-1 heading into last week’s action. Now, as the final week of the regular season arrives, the Coyotes, after beating the Titans 39-19, are the lone team at the top with their 3-1 record. As for the rest of the pack, four teams are now clogging up second place with their 2-2 records (Temescal Canyon, J.W. North, Rancho Verde and Elsinore).
And another game worth the mention, Hemet and Paloma Valley went head-to-head in Week Nine, both are undefeated in league, but since they are not in the same league, that matchup this past Saturday was a non-league bout, so perhaps just bragging rights came into play.
In any case, here are scores, plus editor’s notes for all the Week Nine high school football games involving local teams inside our coverage area.
THURSDAY, OCT. 20
Big West Conference-Lower Division
King (5-4, 2-2) – 10, Temecula Valley (5-4, 2-2) – 0
Cottonwood League
Santa Rosa Academy (8-1, 3-1) – 48, Hamilton (0-8, 0-4) – 14
Manzanita League
Temecula Prep (6-2, 6-0) – 28, California Military Institute (1-6, 1-4) – 9
Mountain Pass League
Liberty (8-1, 3-1) – 35, Perris (6-3, 1-3) – 0
*Tahquitz (7-2, 3-1) – 40, Citrus Hill (0-8, 0-3) – 8
*San Jacinto (7-2, 4-0) – 42, West Valley (6-3, 1-3) – 7
Sunbelt League
Vista del Lago (6-3, 1-1) – 17, Lakeside (3-6, 0-2) – 7
FRIDAY, OCT. 21
Big West Conference-Upper Division
Centennial (8-1, 4-0) – 50, Murrieta Valley (5-4, 1-3) – 7
Chaparral (5-4, 3-1) – 48, Norco (6-3, 3-1) – 28
Vista Murrieta (5-4, 1-3) – 17, Roosevelt (5-4, 0-4) – 7
Big West Conference-Lower Division
Murrieta Mesa (5-4, 3-1) – 54, Corona (0-9, 0-4) – 7
Great Oak (6-3, 4-0) – 37, Santiago (1-8, 1-3) – 13
Inland Valley League
Rancho Christian (4-5, 2-2) – 35, Canyon Springs (4-6, 0-4) – 14
Ivy League
J.W. North (3-6, 2-2) – 27, Elsinore (6-3, 2-2) – 17
Rancho Verde (2-7, 2-2) – 34, Heritage (0-9, 0-4) – 14
Orange Vista (8-1, 3-1) – 39, Temescal Canyon (3-6, 2-2) – 19
Majestic League (8-man)
Cornerstone Christian (3-5, 3-0) – 42, Calvary Baptist (2-7, 1-3) – 6
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
Manzanita League
St. Jeanne de Lestonnac (5-2, 4-1) – 40, Webb (2-4, 2-3) – 36
Majestic League (8-man)
Cal Lutheran (5-3, 3-0) – 44, Hillcrest Christian (0-7, 0-3) – 28
Mesquite League
Linfield Christian (4-5, 3-1) – 41, Western Christian (4-5, 1-3) – 0
Nonleague
Paloma Valley (7-2, 2-0) – 21, Hemet (7-2, 3-0) – 7
Editor’s notes heading into the last week of the regular season, without playoff brackets being live just yet, include our proposed 11-man playoff clinchers and 11-man playoff hopefuls. Let’s hope this makes sense.
In the newly formed Big West Upper and Lower Divisions, Centennial, Chaparral and Norco will advance to the postseason, representing the Upper Division, and Great Oak and Murrieta Mesa have clinched so far in the Lower Division. Centennial owns the top spot for their standings but face a possible tough contender in Norco to wrap up the regular season. A loss, and a Chaparral win in Week Ten, puts the three in a tie for first place.
Great Oak controls the top spot for their Lower Division and will wrap up against Temecula Valley. The Golden Bears could put Great Oak in a tie at the top if they beat the Wolfpack. In order to extend their season, Temecula Valley is in a must-win situation, and they also need a Murrieta Mesa win over King to come into play as well.
In the Cottonwood League, Santa Rosa Academy clinched a postseason spot but would need a Maranatha loss to share the league title. The Inland Valley League has Hemet moving on, controlling the top spot, and Rancho Christian could move on if they take out Moreno Valley, who hold the second-place spot.
The Ivy League is a mess, so let’s see how this plays out. Orange Vista holds the top spot and will advance, but a four-way tie for second place means Rancho Verde can advance with a win or a loss by North or Temescal Canyon; Temescal Canyon advances with a win plus a loss by North or a win plus losses by Orange Vista and Heritage; North can advance with a win plus losses by Rancho Verde and Temescal Canyon; and Elsinore will advance with a win plus a loss by North. Sound right? Sure.
In the Manzanita League, Temecula Prep moves on after clinching the top spot, and St. Jeanne de Lestonnac will move on with their second-place finish behind the Patriots. Linfield Christian will move on from the Mesquite League, as will San Jacinto, Liberty and Tahquitz from the Mountain Pass League. Finally, in the Sunbelt League, Paloma Valley moves on as well.
So, Week Ten will be exciting, that’s for sure. Postseason brackets will be released Sunday, Oct. 30, by 10 a.m. at http://www.cifss.org.
All stats, schedules, photos, and scores are supplied by local high school athletic directors, MaxPreps, CIF-SS offices, contributing writers/photographers and countless fans of the games via social media. Is your team’s score missing? Let us know if your school is inside our coverage area and would like to be mentioned.
To submit any additions or corrections to the schedule or stats, please email sports@reedermedia.com.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at jp@reedermedia.com.
